RU150673U1 - ACTIVE VEHICLE GRILLE SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

1. The active grill shutter system for use in a moving vehicle, which contains at least one plate, an actuator for holding at least one plate in a predetermined position, a controller configured to adjust the amount of electricity supplied to the actuator, depending from the working conditions of the vehicle. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator is an electric motor. The system according to claim 1 or 2, in which at least one plate is arranged to move in the angular direction between the open position, the closed position and at least one predetermined intermediate position. The system according to claim 3, in which the plate can be installed in the open position, the closed position and at least one predetermined intermediate position. The system according to claim 4, in which at least one plate in the open position is in the first angular position, in the closed position in the second angular position, and in at least one predetermined intermediate position in the third angular position. The system according to claim 5, in which the air pressure exerts a rotational force on at least one plate, which increases with increasing vehicle speed, and the magnitude of the rotational force varies depending on the angular position of the corresponding plate. The system according to claim 6, which is configured to supply to the electric motor such an amount of electricity that is sufficient to prevent undesirable angular movement of at least one layer�

Description

The technical field to which the utility model relates.

The present utility model relates to a system of active shutters of a grille of a vehicle, in particular, to a system of active shutters of a grille with adjustable energy consumption.

State of the art

Currently, some vehicles use active grille shutter systems. Since the reduction in fuel consumption and driving characteristics of the vehicle are often important factors when deciding to purchase a vehicle, there is a need for an active grill shutter system designed to take into account these performance characteristics. As the closest analogue of the utility model, we can consider the publication of patent application JP 2010223150 of 10/07/2010. This publication describes a grill in which the opening and closing control of the grill plates is controlled in accordance with the direction of rotation of the drive of the main shaft. When you open the plates, the main drive shaft rotates in the forward direction, when closed, the main shaft rotates in the opposite direction. Thus, to switch the position of the plates, the rotation of the drive of the main shaft must be turned on, which complicates the control of the opening and closing of the plates.

Utility Model Disclosure

The technical result of the utility model is to reduce drag and reduce fuel consumption when driving a vehicle.

To achieve this result, a system of active lattice dampers for use in a moving vehicle is proposed, which includes at least one plate, an actuator for holding at least one plate in the desired position, and a controller configured to adjust the amount of electricity supplied to the actuator, depending on the operating conditions of the vehicle.

The position of the plate may be an open position, a closed position, and at least one predetermined intermediate position.

At least one plate is capable of moving in an angular direction between an open position, a closed position, and at least one predetermined intermediate position.

At least one plate may be located at different angles in each of the selected positions.

At least one plate may be located in the first angular position in the open position, in the second angular position in the closed position, and in the third angular position in at least one predetermined intermediate position.

Air pressure can exert an increasing rotational force on at least one plate as the vehicle speed increases, in which the magnitude of the rotational force acting on at least one plate at high speed differs depending on the angular position, at least at least one plate.

The amount of electric power supplied to the electric motor may be sufficient to prevent undesirable angular movement of at least one plate under the action of a rotational force on at least one plate.

The actuator may be an electric motor.

The controller can adjust the amount of electricity consumed by changing the holding current supplied to the actuator.

Vehicle operating conditions may include a change in vehicle speed.

The controller may receive a signal containing vehicle speed information transmitted to the controller from the vehicle’s transmission control unit (PCM).

The controller may increase the holding current supplied to the electric motor as the vehicle speed increases and may decrease the holding current applied to the electric motor as the vehicle speed decreases.

These and other aspects, objectives and features of a utility model will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art after studying the following descriptions, utility model formulas and accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the utility model, an example will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

In FIG. 1 is a view of a vehicle with a grill mounted on the front of the vehicle;

In FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the front of the vehicle along line II-II of FIG. 1, which shows the plate block of the active grille system;

In FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the active grill shutter system, in which the plate block is shown in the open position;

In FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an active lattice damper system in which a plate block is shown in a closed position;

In FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the active grill shutter system, in which the plate assembly is shown in two different predetermined positions.

Utility Model Implementation

As required, a detailed description of preferred embodiments of the utility model is included herein. However, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are only examples and can be embodied in excellent and alternative forms. The figures do not necessarily correspond to the exact design, some parts can be enlarged or reduced in order to better show the principle of operation. Thus, the specific structural and functional features disclosed in this document should not be construed as limitations, but as an example to familiarize specialists in the art with various embodiments of the present utility model.

In this document, the term “and (or)” when listing two or more items is used to mean that any specified item can be used either separately or in combination with two or more specified items. For example, if it is written that the composition includes components A, B and (or) C, then the composition may include only A; only B; only C; combination of A and B; combination of A and C; combination of B and C; or a combination of A, B and C.

In FIG. 1 shows a general view of a vehicle 2, in front of which 4 there is an opening 6 in which a grill is installed 8. In the Figure, the grill 8 is shown in general form, in practice, depending on the vehicle, it can have many structural and (or) decorative options , while its main function is to pass air and prevent large objects that could damage internal parts from getting into the grill 8. For a better understanding of this utility model, a detailed description of the active the casing grate will be given below with reference to the grating 8. Moreover, those skilled in the art should understand that several vehicles have several gratings installed and that the active lattice dampers system described below can be adapted for use in vehicles with one or more gratings .

In FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the front 4 of the vehicle 2, showing one embodiment of the active grill shutter system 10, consisting of a block of plates 12, also known in the art as grille shutters (AGS). The block 12 of the plates can be of a traditional design and installed in the compartment 14 of the engine of the vehicle 2. The block 12 of the plates consists of one or more plates, which in the drawing are indicated as plates 12.1-12.7, parallel to each other and mounted in the housing 16 located next to lattice 8. The plates 12.1-12.7 are interconnected in the usual way, each plate can move in the angular direction relative to its longitudinal axis, while the movement of the plates 12.1-12.7 in the angular direction occurs synchronously, which allows the plates 12.1-12.7 to occupy the selected open, closed or intermediate position.

In FIG. 3-5, one embodiment of the active grill shutter system 10 is shown, in which the plate block 12 is provided in several positions, including the open position 18 in FIG. 3, closed position 20 in FIG. 4 and the set position in FIG. 5, wherein the predetermined position corresponds to one or more predetermined intermediate positions between the open and closed positions 18, 20, which in FIG. 5 are shown by solid and dashed lines as predetermined positions 22.1 and 22.2, respectively.

In the open position 18 shown in FIG. 3, the plates 12.1-12.7 of the block 12 of the plates are moved in the angular direction to a practically horizontal position, which allows air to enter the engine compartment 14 of the moving vehicle through the grill 8 and the block 12 of the plates. Air trapped inside can be used to cool various parts in the engine compartment 14, for example, a vehicle engine. However, in some cases, more air enters the engine compartment 14 than is required for cooling. In addition, at high speed, air entering the engine compartment 14 increases the drag of a moving vehicle, which leads to an increase in forward power consumption and fuel consumption.

To reduce drag and fuel consumption, the plates 12.1-12.7 of the block 12 of the plates can be moved in an angular direction counterclockwise relative to the open position 18 shown in FIG. 3 until the closed position 20 shown in FIG. 4, in which the plates 12.1-12.7 are located almost vertically, preventing air from entering the engine compartment 14 and directing the air flow around the vehicle. Alternatively, the plates 12.1-12.7 of the block 12 of the plates can be moved in an angular direction counterclockwise relative to the open position 18 shown in FIG. 3 until a selected predetermined position is reached, for example, a predetermined position 22.1 or 22.2 shown in FIG. 5, in which the plates 12.1-12.7 are located at an appropriate angle, this angular position corresponds to the position between open 18 and closed position 20, in which a certain amount of air enters the engine compartment 14, which reduces drag and fuel consumption compared to the open position 18. However, it should be understood that the preset positions 22.1 and 22.2 are given solely as an illustration, therefore, to reduce or increase the air flow in order to provide the necessary cooling Sportna means 2 may be used other position not shown.

In a given position, the air flow either decreases or increases depending on the angle of the plates 12.1-12.7. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the air flow decreases as the plates approach the closed position 20, and increases as the plates approach the open position 18. Thus, with respect to the predetermined positions 22.1 and 22.2, it should be noted that the air flow and the frontal resistance in the set position 22.1, more than in the set position 22.2. From a predetermined position (for example, predetermined positions 22.1 and 22.2) or the closed position 20 of the plate 12.1-12.7 of the block 12 of the plate can be moved in an angular direction clockwise until it again reaches the open position 18 or another predetermined intermediate position between them, corresponding to the required degree of cooling of the vehicle.

To drive the block 12 of the plates, an actuator is functionally connected to it, for example, an electric motor 26, which includes a gear assembly 28, which is capable of moving the plates 12.1-12.7 in the angular direction to the selected position when applying electric energy to the electric motor 26. Node 28 gear may be a standard gear assembly, for example, a planetary or other gear mechanism with a reverse stroke, allowing the block 12 of the plates to move in an angled rolling to open position 18, closed position 20 and any number of specified intermediate positions and vice versa. The electric motor 26 may be any electric motor capable of converting electrical energy into rotational motion, for example, a stepper motor. In the present embodiment, the motor 26 is a stepper motor, each step of which moves the plates 12.1-12.7 in the angular direction to various positions, limited and including the open and closed positions 18, 20. It is obvious that in this way it is possible to achieve any position with exactly a certain angle depending on the number of steps between open 18 and closed positions 20. In addition, the use of a stepper motor is the simplest way to move the plates 12.1-12.7 block 12 p Astin which does not require position sensors are typically used with DC motors.

In the illustrated embodiment of the utility model shown in FIG. 3-5, an electric motor 26 is electrically connected to a transmission control unit 30 of a vehicle, hereinafter referred to as "PCM", which determines the position of the plates. As is known from the prior art, PCM 22 determines the position of the plates based on various input data, for example, vehicle speed, coolant temperature and / or ambient temperature. After determining the position of the PCM 22 instructs the motor 26 to move the plates 12.1-12.7 of the block 12 of the plates in the selected position: open position 18, closed position 20 or intermediate position.

Energy is supplied to the electric motor 26 from standard vehicle power sources, the electric motor 26 is connected to the controller 32, which controls the amount of electric power supplied to the electric motor 26. The controller 32 can be external to the electric motor 26 or integrated in the electric motor design, as in an intelligent electric motor capable of independently controlling power consumption. In any case, the ability to adjust the amount of electricity supplied to the electric motor 26, further reduces fuel consumption, which is described in detail below.

When the plate unit 12 is in a selected position while the vehicle is in motion, air pressure may apply to it, typically increasing with increasing vehicle speed. At low speed, the air pressure practically does not exert rotational force on the block 12 of the plates, which can cause undesirable angular movement of the plates 12.1-12.7. However, at higher speeds, the air pressure can exert a rotational force on the plate block 12, sufficient to move the plates 12.1-12.7 to an undesirable position, which can lead to the fact that the motor 26 (stepper motor) also changes its position. As a result, the ability of the vehicle to pass cooling air into the engine compartment 14 will be impaired.

In FIG. 3 it can be seen that in the open position 18 of the block 12 of the plates, each plate 12.1-12.7 has a relatively small surface on which air pressure acts, since these plates 12.1-12.7 are located almost horizontally. As a result, the plates 12.1-12.7 have little resistance to the flow of air, which freely passes under and above the plates 12.1-12.7, falling into the engine compartment 14. Thus, in the open position 18 shown in FIG. 3, the air pressure on the block 12 of the plates at high speed practically does not cause rotational forces that can cause unwanted angular movement of the plates 12.1-12.7.

Although in the closed position 20 shown in FIG. 4, the surface of the plates 12.1-12.7 increases, since they are practically in an upright position, it is known from the prior art that the housing 16 has a structure (not shown) that abuts one or more plates 12.1-12.7 when they are in the closed position 20, physically preventing the angular movement of the plates 12.1-12.7 under the influence of air pressure at high speed. Thus, the air pressure does not create a problem with the closed position of the 20 plates 12.1-12.7.

In the predetermined position, for example, the predetermined positions 22.1 and 22.2 shown in FIG. 5, the plates 12.1-12.7 are suspended in an appropriate position and are thus subject to angular movement when the vehicle is traveling at high speed. In addition, in each given position, the air pressure acts differently depending on the corresponding angle of the plate. For example, at a given position 22.2, the air pressure is likely to be stronger than the air pressure at a given position 22.1, when moving at the same speed due to the larger surface area on which the air stream enters. Thus, the air pressure creates a greater rotational force acting on the block 12 of the plates in a predetermined position 22.2 than in a predetermined position 22.1.

Based on the foregoing, the controller 32 is configured to adjust the amount of electric power supplied to the electric motor 26 to hold the plate block 12 in any predetermined position so that the rotational force acting on the plate block 12 due to the presence of air pressure does not cause angular movement of the plates 12.1-12.7 block of 12 plates. As mentioned above, the open 18 and closed 20 positions shown in the embodiments of the utility model shown in FIG. 3 and 4, the air pressure practically does not create a rotational force sufficient to cause angular movement of the plates 12.1-12.7 of the block 12 of the plates. In this regard, there is no need to supply electricity to the electric motor 26 to hold the plates 12.1-12.7 in a predetermined position. However, specialists in the art should understand that the plate blocks can have different configurations, therefore, in some embodiments of the utility model, the need to supply power to the electric motor to maintain an open and (or) closed position remains. The following method may also be used in such embodiments of the utility model, but with minor modifications.

After the plates 12.1-12.7, located at an angle, are moved in an angular direction to a predetermined position (for example, to a predetermined position 22.1 and 22.2), a signal for the position of the plates and a vehicle speed signal from PCM 22 are received at the controller 32, while the position of the plates contains information about the current position of the block 12 of the plates, and the vehicle speed signal contains information about the current speed of a moving vehicle. Based on these signals, the controller 32 continuously sends a predetermined amount of electric energy to the electric motor 26 to maintain the plates 12.1-12.7 in a predetermined position at the current vehicle speed, preventing the angular movement of the plates 12.1-12.7 due to the rotational force created by the air pressure on the plate block 12.

If the vehicle speed changes, the controller 32 receives a new vehicle speed signal from the PCM 22 and adjusts the amount of electric power supplied to the electric motor 26 in accordance with the new vehicle speed information and previously obtained information about the position of the plates, either increasing or decreasing the force holding current continuously supplied to the electric motor 26 as the vehicle speed increases or decreases. For example, if the plate block 12 is held at a predetermined position 22.1 and the vehicle picks up speed, the controller 32 will increase the holding current force continuously supplied to the electric motor 26, thereby increasing its holding force against the increasing rotational force generated by air pressure, acting on the block 12 of the plates, due to the increase in vehicle speed. As a result, an increase in the rotational force does not lead to the angular displacement of the plates 12.1-12.7.

If the unit 12 of the plates takes a different predetermined position, the controller 32 receives a new signal about the position of the plates from the PCM 22 and adjusts the amount of electric power supplied to the electric motor 26 in accordance with the new information about the position of the plates and previously obtained information about the speed of the vehicle, or increasing or by decreasing the holding current, continuously supplied to the electric motor 26, in response to information about a change in the angle of the plates 12.1-12.7. For example, if the block of plates 12 from a predetermined position 22.1 moves to a predetermined position 22.2, a change in the angle of the plates leads to an increase in the rotational force acting on the block 12 of the plates due to the presence of air pressure. In response, the controller 32 will increase the holding current continuously supplied to the electric motor 26 to increase its holding force to prevent undesired angular movement of the plates 12.1-12.7.

Thus, the electric motor 26 consumes electricity in the amount necessary to hold the block 12 of the plates in a predetermined position. At higher speeds and (or) plate angles at which increased air pressure occurs, the electric motor 26 creates the holding force necessary to overcome the rotational force acting on the plate block 12, and at low speeds and plate angles at which reduced air pressure, the working load on the electric motor 26 is reduced, which allows to reduce the fuel consumption of the vehicle and increase the life of the electric motor 26. Depending on the required complexity of the active grill shutter system 10, electricity can be adjusted directly in response to changes in vehicle speed and / or plate angle, as described above, or only in response to changes in vehicle speed or plate angle. For example, in a simplified system, the controller can be configured to supply a holding current of the same strength to the electric motor regardless of the position of the plates and to make further changes only based on the vehicle speed.

Although different types of plate blocks and electric motors are likely to require different holding currents to control the amount of energy consumed, the holding current required to hold a particular block of plates in a particular position can be easily determined by observing the effect of air pressure on a particular block of plates at different speeds. . This observation can be done by installing a specific block of plates on a vehicle or using simulation tools known to those skilled in the art. In addition, the effect of wind and / or other driving conditions can also be taken into account in the final result of determining the holding current.

Accordingly, the proposed system of active lattice dampers consumes electricity in the amount necessary to hold at least one plate in a predetermined position depending on changes in vehicle driving conditions, thus providing an additional reduction in fuel consumption.

It should be understood that various variations and modifications can be made to the design described above without departing from the essence of the utility model and that the essence of the utility model is defined by the following formula, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Claims (18)

1. The active grill shutter system for use in a moving vehicle, which contains at least one plate, an actuator for holding at least one plate in a predetermined position, a controller configured to adjust the amount of electricity supplied to the actuator, depending from the working conditions of the vehicle. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator is an electric motor. 3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, in which at least one plate is arranged to move in the angular direction between the open position, the closed position and at least one predetermined intermediate position. 4. The system according to claim 3, in which the plate can be installed in the open position, the closed position and at least one predetermined intermediate position. 5. The system according to claim 4, in which at least one plate in the open position is in the first angular position, in the closed position in the second angular position, and in at least one predetermined intermediate position in the third angular position. 6. The system according to claim 5, in which the air pressure exerts a rotational force on at least one plate, which increases with increasing vehicle speed, and the magnitude of the rotational force varies depending on the angular position of the corresponding plate. 7. The system according to claim 6, which is configured to supply to the electric motor such an amount of electricity that is sufficient to prevent undesirable angular movement of at least one plate under the action of rotational force on it. 8. The system according to claim 1, in which the controller is configured to adjust the amount of electricity consumed by changing the holding current supplied to the actuator. 9. The system according to claim 1 or 2, in which the operating conditions of the vehicle are a change in vehicle speed. 10. The system according to claim 9, in which the controller is configured to receive a signal containing information about the vehicle speed from the vehicle transmission control unit (PCM). 11. The system according to claim 9, in which the controller is configured to increase the holding current supplied to the electric motor as the vehicle speed increases and to reduce the holding current supplied to the electric motor as the vehicle speed decreases. 12. The system according to claim 1, in which at least one plate is made with the ability to move in the angular direction between the open and closed positions, the actuator is an electric motor to which a holding current is supplied, and the controller is configured to adjust the holding current, supplied to the electric motor, depending on the speed of the vehicle. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the plate may be installed in an open position, a closed position, or at least one intermediate position. 14. The system according to item 13, in which at least one plate in each of these positions is located at different angles. 15. The system according to 14, in which the air pressure exerts a rotational force on at least one plate, which increases with increasing vehicle speed, and the magnitude of the rotational force varies depending on the angular position of the corresponding plate. 16. The system of clause 15, which is configured to supply such a holding current to the electric motor that is sufficient to prevent undesirable angular movement of at least one plate under the action of rotational force on it. 17. The lattice system of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal containing vehicle speed information from the vehicle transmission control unit (PCM). 18. The active grill shutter system of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to increase the holding current supplied to the electric motor as the vehicle speed increases and to reduce the holding current supplied to the electric motor as the vehicle speed decreases.

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